This enormous banyan tree in the Durban Botanic Gardens is 115 years old. Image © Samora Chapman

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched a #ChampionTrees photo contest. Send in your photo of an extraordinary tree and you could win a trip to celebrate the International Day of Forests 2017 at the FAO headquarters in Rome!

The contest is linked to the upcoming 23rd Committee on Forestry taking place in Rome in July (#COFO23).

A ‘champion tree’ usually refers to the largest specimen of a tree species – whether a towering sequoia, a banyan tree spread wide over thousands of metres, or an ancient olive tree that might seem small in comparison. Yet other trees are champions in their own way: growing in difficult – or almost impossible – situations, while also delivering benefits to people, animals and the environment.

Deadline for entries is 30 June 2016. Further details on the FAO website.